Moroccan Nightclub Tycoon Slain in Spain Linked to Irish Crime Cartel

The investigation by the Spanish police, according to The Irish Sun, has revealed that Marco Yaqout, 49, killed by gunfire (15 bullets) on January 21, was laundering money for the Kinahan cartel. Some rumors had previously pointed the finger at the Irish cartel in this assassination (a theory according to which Yaqout had stolen from them), but the investigators discovered that Yaqout’s relationship with this Irish mafia was excellent. Daniel Kinahan, the boss of this mafia, needed him.

Another trail led the investigators to a pyramid selling scam (Ponzi scheme) case. Hundreds of millions of euros were at stake and this case would have allowed the famous gangster John ’Goldfinger’ Palmer to pocket 400 million euros (he was also killed, in 2015), and Yaqout would have been involved.

Furthermore, it turned out that Marco Yaqout is a cousin of another notorious figure in organized crime, namely Naoufal ’Belly’ Fassih, who is currently serving 18 years in prison for attempted murder.

According to The Irish Sun: "Kinahan’s involvement in the assassination has not yet been completely ruled out, but the investigators are convinced that the relations with the Kinahans were good." On the other hand, given the diversification of Yaqout’s activities, no lead can be ruled out.

At least one killer riddled Yaqout with bullets, inside his Bentley, as he waited for the electric gate of his villa to open. The residents thought it was fireworks. More than 20 shots were fired.

According to The Irish Sun: "Described as ’known and loved’, Yaqout was one of the richest figures in Marbella".